AN illegal worker at a York restaurant claimed he came in for a cup of tea before his arrest during an immigration raid, according to a licence review application.
The Home Office has called on City of York Council to revoke the licence for Yakamoz, the Turkish venue in Goodramgate, following the raid by Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) officers in September last year.
A premises licence review application stated a £45,000 penalty handed to the restaurant following the enforcement visit remains unpaid.
It comes as the Home Office’s application is set to go before a council licensing hearing next Friday, 16 October.
It also comes after the restaurant’s operator Yakamoz York Ltd went into liquidation in July owing £60,911 including the £45,000 fine, according to Companies House.
The premises was previously home to Lime House restaurant.
ICE officers raided Yakamoz Goodramgate premises on Friday, September 25 2025.
They found the worker wearing a chef’s uniform and a hair net preparing food in the kitchen.
Officers found a key to the back door of the premises in his wallet and interviewed him with the help of an interpreter.
The Home Office report stated: “During the interview, the worker claimed to have visited the premises to see another worker and have a cup of tea.”
But officers found a photo of the worker on his phone wearing the same chef’s uniform and preparing food and admitted he often visited to help with washing dishes.
The worker said he sometimes received food in exchange for his help and confirmed his employer had not done any pre-employment checks.
Home Office checks found he had entered the UK illegally in December 2023 and had lodged a claim for protection which was refused in February 2025.
He told officers he was appealing the refusal but he never had the legal right to work in the UK.
The owner of Yakamoz York Ltd told officers he had not conducted any pre-employment checks on the worker, other than asking for his National Insurance number.
Yakamoz’s owner added the worker was wearing the restaurant’s uniform because he did not want customers to think he was a stranger in the kitchen.
The owner said he did not work at the restaurant but was helping the chef and did not receive anything in return for his work.
Home Office officials stated in their application that merely remedying the existing situation would not be enough of a deterrent to the restaurant and others.
They added its licence should therefore be revoked.
Officials also stated Yakamoz’s bid to overturn its £45,000 civil penalty for employing the illegal worker was refused in December and the fine remained unpaid.
The application stated: “Whether by negligence or wilful blindness illegal workers were engaged in activity on the premises, yet it is a simple process for an employer to ascertain what documents they should check before a person can work.
“All employers are dutybound by law to conduct these checks.”
Companies House showed a business named Yakamoz55 York Ltd which is also registered at restaurant’s address at 55, Goodramgate remains active.
A council report on the upcoming licensing hearing stated the restaurant and Home Office would be able to appeal its decision at a Magistrates Court.